1996-06-26 - Living in the Past

Mark 6:2-4 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were amazed. ``Where did this man get these things?"
they asked. ``What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does
miracles! 3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother
of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And
they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, ``Only in his hometown, among
his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." (NIV)

Is your past preventing you from being a fully devoted Christ follower? Are
you a Christian without honor? Isn't easier to be "Christ-Like" around people
who do not know your past? Lets look at the above passage.

Jesus is in his hometown teaching in the synagogue. The townspeople that
he grew up with were listening and were amazed. Look at the bitter words
they lash out "Isn't the mere carpenter, the one who works with his hands,
isn't this the illegitimate son of Mary?, Isn't this the guy with the very
ordinary brothers and sisters?" Do people do this to you today? Do you let
them?

The evil one wants us to live in our past. He wants to remind us of all the
excess baggage we are carrying around. God on the other hand wants us to
repent and ask forgiveness for our past, and then God forgets and looks forward.
God wants us to place our excess baggage at the foot of the cross and leave
it there. Never to go back and claim the sins of our past. Leave them at
the cross.

Jesus never returned to his hometown after this encounter. Jesus traveled
throughout the land teaching and performing miracles. He never looked back.
You do the same. Don't keep looking back at your past sins, keep looking
toward the Cross. The cross of forgiveness, the cross of redemption and
salvation.

Dear Father, Forgive me for the past sins in my life. Father, I place
my sins at the foot of the cross. Father help me to look forward, to share
in the hope of Jesus Christ. Father, help me to overcome the bait of Satan,
the bait that tells me I am not worthy to be yours. Thank you so much for
not only forgiving my sins, but for forgetting them as well. Most of all,
thank you for your Son Jesus, who died for me, who gives me new life. I pray
in His name. Amen.